According to eyewitnesses, the bus was travelling from Dhaka to Kuakata when the driver lost control near Bandra Bazar. The vehicle overturned and came to a halt approximately 200 metres away from the point where it first lost control, they said.
The crash left dozens of passengers injured, prompting local residents and Fire Service personnel to launch a rescue operation. The injured were taken to hospitals in Amtali and Kalapara for treatment. Three passengers who sustained serious injuries were subsequently transferred to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for more advanced medical care.
Local residents said several of the injured passengers had suffered fractures to their arms and legs. However, detailed information about the condition of all those injured was not immediately available.
The allegations concerning who was driving the bus have added to the concerns surrounding the incident. Residents claimed that the driver had fallen asleep and that the helper had taken control of the vehicle. Such allegations have not yet been independently confirmed, and the precise sequence of events leading to the crash remains unclear.
Both the driver and the helper reportedly fled the scene following the accident. Police have since seized the bus and initiated legal proceedings.
Mohammad Yaqub Hossain, officer-in-charge of Amtali Police Station, confirmed that the vehicle had been seized and that both the driver and the helper were absconding. He said legal action was under way.
The accident has also renewed calls for improvements to road safety at the Bandra junction, which local residents describe as a frequent accident hotspot. They expressed frustration over the absence of traffic signal lights at the junction, arguing that the lack of adequate traffic control measures creates additional risks for motorists and passengers.
Residents have urged the authorities to install traffic signal lights at the location as soon as possible. They have also called for speed breakers to help control vehicle speeds and demanded that the highway be upgraded to four lanes.
Their concerns highlight the challenges of ensuring safe travel on busy inter-district highways, where traffic conditions, driver fatigue and inadequate road infrastructure can all contribute to serious accidents. Long-distance journeys require drivers to remain alert and adequately rested, while transport operators must ensure that vehicles are driven by appropriately qualified personnel.
However, determining whether driver fatigue or the alleged involvement of the helper contributed to Thursday’s crash will require a proper investigation. The police have not announced any findings establishing the cause of the accident.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the need for effective traffic management and improved safety measures at accident-prone junctions. Proper signage, functioning traffic signals, appropriate speed controls and better road design can help reduce risks, although their effectiveness depends on consistent implementation and compliance with traffic rules.
For the injured passengers and their families, the immediate priority remains medical treatment and recovery. Meanwhile, residents of the Bandra Bazar area are looking to the authorities for action on their long-standing safety concerns, hoping that the crash will prompt practical measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
